Fuel-reserve-supply system



F. JERDONE, JR. FUEL RESERVE SUPPLY SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED APR.18, 1919.

1,357, 98 8. Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

lhllllllllllllll III m In Franc/ 5 Jakob/re Jr F. JERDONE, JR. FUEL RESERVE SUPPLY SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. 1919.

1 ,357, 988. Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN VEN TOR.

franc/(s Jerawze JA' B Y 1 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS JEEDONE, JR., 0F TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH CORPORATION, OF TOLEDO, 01-110, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FUEL-RESERVE-SUPPLY SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9. 1920.

Application filed April 18, 1919. Serial No. 290,931.

To all a- 7mm 71;!- may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANCIS JERDONE, Jr., residing at Toledo, Ohio, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Fuel- Reserve-Supply Systems, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a fuel reserve supply system for internal combustion engines, and has for its object to provide simple and inexpensive means by which a reserve supply of fuel may be carried in the main fuel supply tank from which. fuel is fed to the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for controlling a re serve supply of fuel in a fuel tank, said means being arranged to automatically stop the flow of fuel from the tank when a pre determined amount has been withdrawn therefrom, and being manually adjustable to permit the reserve supply of fuel to be discharged from the tank and arranged to be automatically released from adjusted position when a new supply of fuel is placed in the tank greater than said predetermined amount.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination with the vacuum fuel feed system of an internal combustion engine, improved means for rendering the system ineffective when all but predetermined amount of fuel, constituting a reserve supply, has been consumed by the engine, said means being adjustable to permit the use of the reserve supply and automatic in operation to permit the use of a new supply greater than said reserve supply.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for automatically stopping the flowof fuel from a tank regardless of whether it be drawn there-from by suction or fed from the tank by gravity, and which will require manual operation only when all but a predetermined amount of fuel has been discharged by the tank.

To these and other ends the invention comprises certain novel features of constructionand arrangement of parts as will hereinafter more fully described and claimed, it being understood that the invention is sus ceptible to various modified forms of con-- struction not shown in the drawings which will be comprehended by the appended claims.

A structure illustrating one embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanyrng drawings forming a part of this specification in which:

Figure I is a diagrammatic View embodying the invention.

Fig. II is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a fuel tank with my invention ap plied thereto, the fuel control valve being shown in open position.

Fig. III is a similar view with the valve shown in closed position.

Fi IV is a sectional view taken on line IV IV of Fig. III.

Fig. V is a sectional view taken on line VV of Fig. III.

Fig. VI is a sectional View taken on line vr vr of Fig. in.

Fig. VII is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. III.

Fig. VIII is a sectional view taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. VII.

Fig. IX is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a slightly modified form of the invention showing the valve in closed position.

Fig. X is a similar view with the valve shown in open position.

Fig. XI is a sectional view taken on line XI-XI of Fig. IX.

Like reference characters throughout the several'views of the drawing indicate corresponding parts.

In the present invention I have provided an improved device for (iontrolling a reserve supply of fuel which may be connected with the vacuum fuel feed system of an internal combustion engine, and which will also operate satisfactorily with a gravity feed system.

Referring to the drawing, 10 represents an internal combustion engine such as is used on motor vehicles, a vacuum feed tank 11 being connected with the manifold 12 0f the engine by means of a conduit 13 and the carbureter ll of the engine being connected with said vacuum tank by means of a conduit 15, while the main fuel supply tank 16 is connected with said vacuum tanlr by means of a conduit 17, all as shown in Fig. I. In the top of the tank 16 I provide an opening 18, which is protected by a cover plate 18 and through which parts of the invention are inserted, said plate being secured upon the tank by any suitable means.

Projecting into the tank through the cover plate 18 is a tube 19 having a collar 20 resting upon the plate 18 and a screw plug 21 in its upper end adapted to receive a connection 22, which in turn is connected with the conduit 17 as shown in Fig. II. The lower end ofthe tube 19 which preferably rests upon the bottom of the tank is provided with a screw plug 23' having a reduced portion 24 extending through the bottom of the tank and provided with a a collar 25 suitably connected with said reduced portion. A drain valve 26 is provided upon the extension 24 and when it is desired to provide a gravity feed system instead of a vacuum feed system, a supply conduit 27 may be connected with the reduced portion 24 by means of an L 28, as shown in Fig. II. Secured upon the tube 19 within the tank and projecting laterally therefrom are a pair of spaced arms 29, between which is pivoted at 30 a bell crank having a horizontally disposed arm 31 carrying a float 32, and a vertically disposed arm 33 pro- 25 vided with avalve 34 for closing the fuel inlet opening 35 leading into the tube 19 adjacent the bottom thereof. Movement of the float upwardly in the tank is limited by a projection 36 on the bell crank arm 31, 30 which is adapted to engage a pin 37 extending between the spaced arms 29 as shown in Figs. TI and III. The float in Fig. TI is shown in its normal raised position and in Fig. III in substantially hori- 5 -zontal position to eifect the closing of the valve 34 at the time when all but the reserve supply of fuel has been drawn from the .tank. The means for manually raising the float and opening the valve comprises a rod 38 preferably provided with an oifset portion 39, with which is connected a stem 40 extending through the plate 18 of the tank and provided with a handle or knob 41 by which the rod 38 is raised. The rod is slidably mounted adjacent the tube 19 in the guides 42, which are suitably connected with said tube. The lower end of said rod is preferably reduced and threaded as indicated at 43 to receive the wedge or bell crank operating member 44, the inner face of which rests upon the tube 19, and the outer face of which. is preferably inclined at 45 to engagethe inclined face 46 of the bell crank arm 33 when said rod is raised 5 to effect movement of the bell crank upon its pivot for the purpose of opening of the valve 34. When the rod has been raised a pre-determined amount the projection or shoulder 47 on the arm 33 drops into engagement with the bottom of the member 44, thereby preventing the return of the valve to closed position until the float is carried-upwardly by an increased amount of fuel placed in the tank greater than the reserve supply, at which time the projection 47 is moved out of engagement with the member 44, thereby permitting the rod to drop by gravity to normal position, as indicated in Fig. II. After the rod has returned to normal position the float will hold the valve open until the liquid in the tank has been reduced to the amount shown in Fig. III, which constitutes the reserve supply and which may be varied in quantity by raising or lowering the pivot point 30 of the float and lengthening or shortening the arm 33 as the case may be. The rod is limited in its downward movement by means of the laterally projecting pins 49, which are adapted to engage the arms 29 projecting from the tube 19 when said rod is in normal position. Upward movement of the rod is also limited by said pins 49 when they engage the lower stop 42 on the tube 19, which occurs at the time the projection 47 of the arm 33 drops into the notch 48 of the member 44, when the rod is manually adjusted to effect the opening of the valve 34. When the valve is in closed position, as shown in Fig. III, there is sufiicient space between the inclined faces 45 and 46 of the members 44 and 33 respectively to insure the proper seating of the valve by placing the entire weight of the float and bell crank upon said valve. The tube 19 is provided at points on opposite sides of the inlet opening 35 with the inclined guides 50, which serve tocenter the valve when returned to closed position.

The modification shown in Figs. IX to XI inclusive difiers from that shown in the other figures of the drawing only in that the valve is not directly connected with the bell crank arm, but is normally open'by a spring and is closed by the float and bell crank when the fuel in the tank is reduced to a pre-determined amount, as shown in Fig. IX.. In this case the valve 51 is sur rounded by a spring 52, the inner end of which engages the tube 19 and outer end a collar 53 on the valve, said valve and spring being mounted in a casing 54, suitably connected with the tube 19, as shown in Fig. TX. The valve 51 is provided with an extension 55, which is slidably mounted in the outer end of the casing, and projects therefrom in the path of the vertically disposed bell crank arm 33 on the float 32 which is normally held by the buoyancy of the liquid in the tankin position to keep the valve open until such time as all but the reserve supply of fuel has been cons'umed as indicated in Fig. IX. The float and bell crank are heavy enough to overcome the resistance of the spring 52, and thereby serve to effect the closing of the valve. The operation of the device shown in Figs. TX and X is the same as that shown in Figs. II and III, and a description of the one will suflice for the other.

In either of the present devices when the valve is automatically closed by the action of the float, all that is necessary to effect its opening and adjustment is the raising of the rod 3b. Thisis all that the driver is required to do for the reason that when a new supply of liquid is placed in the tank greater than the reserve supply, the bell crank is automatically released from engagenient with the member M by the buoyancy of the float. It will be understood that in placing a new supply of liquid in the tank it will not be necessary to fill the same to effect the automatic release of the valve, but only an amount slightly greater than that constituting the reserve supply, and that if a new supply is placed in the tank less than the reserve supply the bell crank will not be released and therefore the valve will remain open to permit the use of the. limited amount of fuel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A fuel control device insertible in a tank for regulating the supply of fuel to lie-discharged therefrom comprising a hollow member having an inlet opening in :ommunication with a connection leading from the tank, and a manually adjustable valve pivotally supported in said tank and adapted to automatically close said opening when the fuel in the tankis reduced to a pre-determined amount, said valve being automatically released from adjusted position when the liquid in the tank is increased above said predetermined amount.

2. A fuel control device insertible in a tank for regulating the supply of fuel to be discharged therefrom comprising a hollow member having an inlet opening therein, an aspirator connected with said hollow member and a manually adjustable float controlled valve pivotally supported in said tank adapted to automatically close said opening when the fuel in the tank is reduced to a pre-determined amount, said valve being automatically released from adjusted position when the liquid in the tank is increased above said pre-determined amount.

3. A fuel control device comprising a tube insertible in a tank, said tube having an inlet opening therein, a conduit leading from the tube in communication with the said opening, a float pivoted upon said tube, a valve controlled by said float arranged to automatically close said opening when the fuel in the tank is reduced to a predetermined amount, and means for manually adjusting said valve to open position, said adjusting means leased when a supply of liquid is placed in the tank greater than said pre-determined amount.

being automatically rea. A fuel control device comprising a tube insertible in a tank and having an inlet openingtherein, a conduit leading from the tube in communication with the opening, an aspirator connected with said conduit, an arm projecting from said. tube, a mem ber pivoted upon said arm, a float carried by said member, a valve arranged to be actuated by said member for closing said inlet opening when the fuel in the tank is reduced to a predetermined amount, and

,means adjustable to effect the holding of said valve in open position, said means be :ing automatically released when the fuel in the tank is increased above said pre-determined amount.

5. A fuel control device comprising a tube insertible in the tank, and having an inlet opening therein, a conduit leading from the tank in communication vith the tube, a member pivoted upon said tube, a float upon said member, a valve adapted to be actuatedby said member for closing said inlet opening when the fuel in the tank is reduced to a pre-determined amount, and a slidably mounted member adjustable to effect the opening of said valve, and said slidably mounted member being automatically released when the fuel in the tank i increased above said pre-determined amount.

6. A fuel control device comprising a tube insertible in a tank and having inlet and outlet openings therein. a member pivoted in said tank having an inclined portion, a float carried by said member, a valve arranged to be moved by said member to close said inlet opening when said float is moved to substantially horizontal position, and actuating means cooperating withthe inclined portion of said member to effect the opening of said valve and serving to hold the same in open position, said actuating'and holding means being automatically released when a supply of liquid is placed in the tank greater than said pie-determined amount.

7. A fuel control device comprising a tube insertible in a tank and having inlet and outlet openings therein, a float pivoted upon said tube, means for limiting the upward movement of the float, a valve controlled by said float arranged to automatically close said inlet opening When the fuel in the tank is reduced to a pre-determined amount, and means for manually adjusting said float to effect the opening of said valve, said means being automatically released when the liquid in the tank is increased above said pre-determined amount.

A fuel control device comprising a tube insertible in a tank, and having inlet and outlet openings therein, an arm extending from the tube, a bell crank pivoted upon said arm, a stop upon the arm for limiting the movement of the bell crank, a float upon said bell crank, a valve arranged to be actuated by said bell crank for closing said inlet opening when the fuel in the tank is reduced to a predetermined amount, an op erating member interposed between said tube and said bell crank for moving the latter to efiect the opening of the valve, and means for limiting the movement of the operating member in opposite directions.

9. A. fuel control device comprising a tube insertible in a tank and having inlet and outlet openings therein, an arm projecting from the tube, a bell crank pivoted upon said arm, a float upon said bell crank, a valve for closing said inlet opening, a spring normally holding said valve open, said valve being adapted to be closed by the weight of said float and bell crank when the fuel in the tank is reduced to a pre-determined amount, and means for setting said bell crank to permit the opening of the valve by said spring, said setting means being automatically released when the fuel in the tank is increased above said predetermined amount.

10. In a fuel control device the combination of a tank a tube insertible in the tank, and provided with inlet and outlet openings, a float pivoted upon said tube, a valve controlled by said float arranged to automatically close said inlet opening when the fuel in the tank is reduced to a predetermined amount, and means guided by said tube for manually adjusting said valve to open pos1- tion, said adjusting means being automat cally released when a supply of liquid is placed in the tank greater than said predetermined amount.

'11. In a fuel control device, the combination with the vacuum fuel feed system of an internal combustion engine including the fuel supply tank thereof, a tube interposed in the system and arranged to project into said tank and having an inlet opening therein, a normally open valve for controlling said inlet, a float pivotally supported in said tank and arranged to eflect the closing of the valve when the fuel in the tank is reduced .to a pre-determined amount, and means foradjusting the float to open the valve, said means being automatically re leasedwhen the fuel in the tank is increased above said pro-determined amount.

12. A fuel control device comprising a tube insertible in a tank and having inlet and outlet openings therein, a bell-crank pivotally mounted within said tank, a float upon one arm of said bell-crank, a valve controlled by the other arm of the bell-crank and adapted to close said inlet opening when predetermined posithe float assumes a :tion within the tank, and means for setting said bell-crank to prevent movement of the float to said predetermined position, said setting means being automatically released when the fuel in this tank rises above a predetermined level.

13. A fuel control device comprising a tube insertible in a tank and having inlet and outlet openings therein, a bell-crank pivotally mounted within the tank, a float upon one arm of the bell-crank, a valve controlled by the other arm of the bell-crank and adapted to close said inlet opening when the float assumes a predetermined position within the tank, and a wedge movable to actuate said bell-crank to set the same in position to prevent movement of the float to said predetermined position, said wedge being automatically released by the action of the float when the-liquid in the tank rises above a predetermined level.

. 14. A fuel control device compris" a tube insertible in a tank and having inlet and outlet openings therein, a float actuated member pivotally mounted within said tank provided with an inclined portion, a valve adapted to be closed by said pivoted member and to close said inlet opening when the float assumes a predetermined position within said tank, and adjustable means adapted to cotiperate with the inclined portion of said pivotallymounted member to set the member in position to prevent movement of the float to said predetermined position, said.

adjustable means being automatically released by upward movement of the float when the tank is filled above a predetermined point.

15. A fuel control device insertible in a fuel holding tank comprising a hollow member having inlet and outlet openings, float controlled means pivotally mounted upon said hollow member for automatically opening and closing said inlet opening when the fuel rises and falls above and below a predetermined point within the tank and adjustable means controllable from the exterior of the tank for setting said float controlled means to prevent the closing of said inlet opening when the fuel falls below said predetermined point, said adjustable means being automatically released when the tank is refilled above a predetermined level.

16. A fuel control system comprising a fuel tank provided with an outlet passageway, a valve for closing said passageway when the fuel is reduced to a predetermined level within the tank, a float controlled member for actuating said valve, and an operating member for said float controlled member having an inclined portion adapted to move in engagement with the float controlled member to cause the same to actuate the valve.

17. A fuel control system comprising a fuel tank provided with an outlet passageway, a valve for closing said passageway when the fuel is reduced to a predetermined level within the tank, a. float controlled member for actuating said valve, and an operating member for said float controlled member, one of said last mentioned members having an inclined portion adapted to cooperate with the other of said members to effect movement of the valve to, and retention in, open position, the valve being automatically released when the tank is filled to a point above said predetermined level.

18. A fuel control system comprising a fuel tank, a tube connected with the tank, a valve arranged to automatically close said tube when-the fuel in the tank is reduced to a predetermined amount, and a cam operatively associated with the valve for opening the same.

19. A fuel control system comprising a fuel tank, a tube connected with the tank, a valve arranged to automatically close said tube when the fuel in the tank is reduced to a predetermined amount, and a cam adjustable to effect the opening of said valve, said cam being adapted to automatically release said valve and to return to normal position when the fuel in the tank is increased above said predetermined amount.

20. A fuel control system comprising a fuel tank, a tube connected with the tank, a float controlledvvalve arranged to automatically close said tube when the fuel in the tank is reduced to a predetermined amount, a member for lifting said valve from its seat, a cam adjustable to effect operation of said lifting member, said cam being adapted to automatically return to normal position when a new supply of fuel greater than said predetermined amount is placed in the tank.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si ature.

FRANCIS JERDONE JR. 

